Ahhh the bassinet. The very image resurrects serene thoughts of chubby-faced infants in blissful slumbers with doting parents hovering close by. Bassinets stir deep memories of lullabies, days gone by and weeping willows…….hmmm.
I am a lover of all things baby and the bassinette is no exception. Twelve years ago, while pregnant with my first child I ran out and purchased a Moses basket at Dear Born. Once home, I set it up next to my bed and gazed longingly at my purchase. Everyday I caressed the white eyelet fabric that lined the basket whilst conjuring images of my baby-to-be. My sweet first-born child was a “by-the-book" infant sleeping four hours a stint in her bassinet and barely murmuring when she needed to be fed. I loved reaching out of bed without leaving the warmth of my blankets, bleary eyed and pulling her soft, little body in to bed to breast feed. It was so easy! Flip her out, flip her on, flip her back.
Two years later, expecting once more, the Moses basket was dusted off, eyelet lovingly washed, sheets re-fitted for a baby brother. Again, I marveled at the marriage of simplicity and function. The benefits of keeping a new born close to mom at night, for me, has always been the perfect balance between the crib and the co-sleeping options. Although I find may of the co-sleepers not as attractive some parents swear by them. 
A second child requires you to be more mobile so during the day I would grab the handles of the Moses basket baby still asleep in side (not always recommended), and cart a sleeping infant around the house as I did chores from vacuuming to chasing my still sweet but now active 2/12 year old. And, bassinets are handy to have on main floors or at the in-laws as a viable option to the crib during those first 4-5 months
As the babies grew, they tested the limits of our little Moses basket. Imagine my mixed emotions of all out hilarity combined with the horror when I came upstairs one day to find my now 3 year old daughter blissfully, happily playing with her and her “dolly’ in the bassinette. “Look Mommy, I am a baby again!” she gleefully pronounced. The sturdy, plain white metal structure, safely harboring both basket and 3-year old to my relief and amazement.
And, we relied on the poor structure even still as my daughter refused to part with her beloved crib, hence, baby number 2 slumbered blissfully unaware that we were pushing the “advised weight restrictions” of our Moses basket until the transfer to crib could be made.
Given the many years, and multiple usages we got out of our bassinette you can image my utter delight when discovering 10 years after baby number 2 that I was expecting another baby (quite unexpectedly). I, once again, could longingly peruse the aisles of baby boutiques and this time I spent as much time covering the plethora of baby shopping sites as I did the stores. And, my significant other, a first time daddy, carefully read consumer reports and customer feedback on our many choices. Did I want a cradle, a bassinette, a co-sleeper? As much as I was excited by the promise of the rocking-singing-vibrating-light flashing bassinettes that were now available to my unborn child, I couldn’t help but wonder did the technological and medical advancements over the past decade really be a replacement for my beloved Moses basket? I was doubtful.
”I promise to keep an open mind!” I stated as we sat side by side in bed poring over image, after image of bassinette on laptops on babys-r-us. The promises and options were amazing to me as the gnawing feeling that I was more old-fashioned than I wanted to admit kept creeping into my head. I began to long for my Moses basket. And the promises were staggering. One of my favorite claims comes from the Fisherprice ™ Zen Gliding Bassinet that promises to replicate the sounds of the womb will providing mom “peace of mind” by matching her décor. 
The plethora of choices was mind boggling: color options, price, singing, swaying. And all promising to soothe baby to sleep in minutes so mom and dad can catch up on much needed REM.
As I delved deeper on to sites like aBaby, I discovered things have indeed changed scince my Moses Basket. The Tiffany was my favorite promising The “uniqaue hand forged iron cradle that will let your baby rock into a life full of pleasure” hmm, tempting I became obsessed with functions and features, moving parts of all bassinets and toyed with the old world glamour of the wooden cradle. And then the Simplicty 4-in-1 bassinette arrived. It was Very easy to assemble (my 12 year old daughter Bianca did the bulk of it while I, now assigned to bed rest by doctor, had feet up and was sipping my tea).
And, then, it was done. And, me with hormones swimming through my veins like a fine champagne, stared at it deliriously for hours imagining the next, sweet little kitten sleeping. Only problem: baby number 3 was no sleeper! He ate every 2 hours until about 6 weeks ago when at 5 months I determined that he no longer needed his bi-hourly snack. He didn’t cry he wailed. He didn’t toss he rumbled. Baby number 3 was a force of nature and even our fancy new bassinette was not going to calm him. So, with the coldest winter on record, and a daddy who was away every week on business. he lasted about 3-4 nights in the beautiful new bassinette before what I did what I vowed never to-do: I became a proponent of the co-sleeping method, at least at night.
So you wonder? A waste of money? Down the drain for the brief moment of usage? Not at all! My newest addition and two other kids make every day activities like showering major feats. But, when ½ awake or slightly drowsy little Max loves his bassinette. Early days the vibrations actually did soothe the slightly colicky little fella and the music (which admittedly to my ear sounded like elevator music from hell) seemed to have its appeal. Many a nap has been taken in the bassinette which with its hooded cover and swaying motion allowed us at least a little respite from Mr. Active. He loves his mobile and I can shower , or get dressed, or review homework wth the peace of mind that he is safe and happy. And, I am happy to report, with Max approaching 7 months, I am once again pushing the limits of a bassinette. Propped up with pillows and surrounded by toys, his brother finds it easier to baby sit while I attempt the longest shower in history (or at least the longest shower mother hood allows). I remain a strong fan of the bassinette!
Gayemarie’s Bassinette tips:
- Don’t waste money on multiple fitted sheets – a couple will do and will be easy to maintain. Baby Box and A Baby both have an excellent selection of bassinet bedding.
- Do get one with a sturdy under basket feature – it’s a very nice way to keep baby blankets, receiving blankets and even small toys handy
- Do remove the castors if you have small children or wooden/tiled floors. The risk of the bassinette moving in a direction you did not expect
- The co-sleeper option is handy IF your bed fits it well. I found that my large, cherry wood statesmen bed did not lend itself to snuggly fastening the bassinet to the side and it was just as easy to reach over and get the baby
- Although I am still a fan of the Moses basket I will admit that the sturdy, bassinets give more peace of mind and will support the weight of an older infant easily.
I also love some of the cradle designs offered - both Cariboo and traditional cradles offer design selections for any decor.
- This likely goes without saying but do wash all of the fabric surrounding the bassinette even if you think your infant will not come into contact. Many shipments come from overseas and the containers are sprayed with insecticide or other toxic materials that are not safe for infant skin.
- Don’t fuss too much over the quality or the type of mobile. These need to be removed once an infant can sit unattended and in spite of color versus black and white my experience of infants is that they are very easily entertained by just about anything that goes round and round in the early months.
